Machine for wrapping and boxing articles



June 3 J. VAN BUREN 2,084,515

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed March 27, 1933 16 Sheehs-Sheet l INVENTOR BY John UgmBwrm Maw.

June 22, 1937. J. VAN BUREN MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed March 27, 1953 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY I ATTORNEYJ June 22, 1937. J. VAN BU-REN 2,084,515

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed March 27, 1933 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I l I l I I l I I I I I I I l I I I I I I INVENTOR John UanBuran BY I ' ATTORNEYJ MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed March 27, 1933 16 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Jbhn UwnBu/rn ATTORN EYJ June 22, 1937. Y J, V BUREN 2,084,515

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed March 27, 1933 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR John Vim/5101512 BY NMM. ATTCDRNEYQ- J. VAN BUREN MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND BOXING ARTICLES June 22, 1937.

16 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 2'7, 1933 INVENTOR John UwnBwmn mu 1M m ATTORNEY 8 June 22, 1937. J. VAN BUREN mcxima FOR WRAPPING AND BOXING ARTICLES 16 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 27, 1933 i W B%m Rn N mm A f June 22, 1937. J. VAN BUREN 2,084,515

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed March 27, 19:53 16 sheets-sheet 8 l l l l l l l l g I w 1: I

o 0 3 g v T a: g

a Q g g R INVENTOR 8: I John UwnBu/mru BY M KATTORNEYJ June 22, 1937( VAN BUREN 2,084,515

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed March 27, 19:55 1e Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR John Ua/nBwzm wmw June 22, 1937. J. VAN BUREN 2,084,515

INVENTOR John Ua/nBwrm ATTORN EYS June 22, 1937. J. VAN-BUREN v MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed March 27, 1933 16 Sheets-Sheet ll Y R M Y AW \l 2. Q? 1 TE x, m A.) u 3 1/ & J .7 m Q m June 22, 1937.

16 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTOR Jlflm, UanBzmm/ June 22, 1937. J, V BUREN 2,084,515

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed March 27, 1933 16 Sheets-Sheet 14 H INVENTOR John Uwnbmm BY My ATTORN EYJ June'22, 1937. J. VAN BUREN MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND BOXING ARTICLES Filed March 2'7, 1933 16 Sheets-Sheet l5 INVENTOR BY John UanBwrm ATTORNEYS I June 22, 1937. J. VAN BUREN MACHINE FOR WRAPPING ANb BOXING ARTICLES 16 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed March 27, 1933 INVENTOR John Van/Bum m 'ATTORNEYJ' k Patented June '22, 1 937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND BOXING ARTICLES 25 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for wrapping and boxing articles, such as cakes of soap. At the present time it is customary to enclose cakes of soap in wrappers and in some cases the wrapped cakes are assembled in boxes. When this is done the cakes are wrapped in the wrapping machine and are then boxed in a separate machine.

This invention has for its object to provide a machine so constructed and arranged that the articles will be wrapped and the wrapped articles will be boxed in a single machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine so constructed and arranged as to feed 5 and wrap the articles, fold blanks into boxes, en-

close the wrapped articles in the boxes and close the boxes.

' Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part of this application, and in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine shown 25 in Fig. 1 looking to the right in said figure;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing the box making portion of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 3;

3 Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation looking to the front of the mechanism for feeding the blanks which are used to form the cartons or boxes, this view being taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 5 showing the feed for the carton or box blanks;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line |-'l of Fig. 6 and showing one set 40 of blank feeding rolls;

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are transverse sectional elevations similar to Fig. 7, taken substantially on lines 8-8, 99, and Ill-l0 of Fig. 3 and showing the successive folding mechanisms for the carton 45 blank;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view or seetional plan view showing a part of the mechanism a for feeding the folded blanks;

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation taken at right 50 angles to Fig. 11 and substantially on line IZ-I2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an elevational view partly in section, showing the presser means for closing the box or carton, this view being taken substantially on 55 line l3-l3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 but showing the clamping or presser members open instead of closed;

Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line l5-I5 of Fig. 13; 5 Fig. 16 is a plan view of the blank before it is folded;

Fig. 17 is a prospective view showing the blank folded into a rectangular'tube, the ends being open;

Figs. 18 to 22 inclusive, are elevational views showing the mechanism for feeding the open ended carton through its successive positions of movement, these views being somewhat diagrammatic; 15

Fig. 23 is an elevational view partly in section, showing the article feed conveyor, wrapper, feed mechanism and tumbler blocks for enclosing the article in the wrapper;

Fig. 24 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a view similar to Fig. 23 but showing the parts in section, this view illustrating the article feeding, wrapper feed and mechanism for enclosing the article in the wrapper;

Fig. 26 is a detail sectional elevation similar to Fig. 25 but showing an article being fed into the receiving pocket in which it is partially wrapped and another article being ejected from the other folding pocket;

Fig. 27 is a sectional elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 25 and substantially on line 21-21 of Fig. 25, this view illustrating the article feed, carton feed and a part of the wrapper folding means; 5

Fig. 28 is an elevational view showing the operating mechanism for the folding pockets;

Fig. 29 is an elevational. view taken at right angles to Fig. 28;

Fig. 30 is a sectional elevation showing the pockets positioned with their open ends toward each other, in which position the article in the lower pocket is transferred to the upper pocket;

Fig. 31 is an elevational view taken at right angles to Fig. 30;

Fig. 32.,is a plan view of a portion of the wrapper folding mechanism, this view being taken on line 3232 of Fig. 31;

Fig. 33 is a top plan view of the mechanism for closing the cartons after the article has been placed therein;

Fig. 34 is an elevational view partly in section, taken at right angles to Fig. 33;

Fig. 35 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 3535 of Fig. 34; and

Figs. 36, 37, 38, and 39 are sectional elevations on an enlarged scale taken substantially on lines 3636, 31-31, 38-38, and 3939 of Fig. 34, these views illustrating the mechanism for closing the ends of the carton.

The invention briefly described consists of a machine comprising a plurality of successively acting mechanisms for enclosing an article such as a cake of soap in a wrapper, placing the wrap per in a box and closing the box or carton. These mechanisms include means for feeding the wrappers and for folding the wrappers around the articles, means for feeding box or carton blanks and for folding the blanks into open ended tubes and thereafter feeding the tubes or open ended cartons over the articles, and means for closing the open ends of the cartons after the wrapped articles have been placed therein. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated the articles are fed by an endless chain, the wrappers are fed intermittently, the articles are discharged from the feeding chain and the wrappers and articles are successively placed in folding pockets and discharged from the pockets. The carton blanks are fed to folding mechanism which folds them into open ended tubes or cartons and then feeds the open ended cartons over the wrapped articles and subsequently closes the ends of the cartons.

Further details of the invention will appear from the following description.

As above stated, the machine embodying the invention comprises a plurality of mechanisms which will be described under a plurality of headings.

Wrapper feeding mechanism This structure is illustrated particularly in Figs. 23, 24, and 25. The sheets or wrappers are positioned in a hopper H having an open bottom, as shown in Fig. 25. The wrappers are fed successively from the hopper bymeans of a friction engaging member such as an arcuate lug 50 of rubber or like material carried by a rotatable roll 5| which in turn is mounted on a shaft 52. The bottom sheet or wrapper is engaged by an upwardly projecting pin 53. As the roll 5| rotates in the direction of the arrow shownin Fig. 25 the sheets will be successively fed from the hopper to feed rolls 54 and 55. A shaft "I0, driven by sprocket and chain connections 11, (see Figs. 24 and 25) drives the shaft 52' by a sprocket and chain connection 5B, 51, and 58. The shaft 52' is connected to drive the shaft 52 and feed rolls 5| and 55 by means of gears 59 and 60 and the gear 60 is connected to drive the roll 54 by a gear BI.

Article feeding mechanism The cakes of soap or, if desired, other articles are fed in the machine by an endless chain 65 which comprises a plurality of elliptical pockets 6B which are pivotally connected at their ends to chains 61, 68. The top or upper lap of the chain travels along a table or platform 69 on which the cakes are supported. The chain is intermittently actuated by means of ratchet and pawl mechanism shown particularly in Figs. 23, 25, and 27. A cam shaft I0 is connected by a sprocket and chain drive II to the shaft D and is provided with a cam 12 which engages a roller I3 on a connecting rod or pitman I4, the other end of the pitman having pivoted thereon a pawl I5 which engages and rotates a ratchet I6 loosely mounted on a shaft 11. The ratchet I0 has a hub on which is mounted a gear M which meshes with a gear 82 secured to a shaft 83 on which are also mounted sprocketwheels B4 and 85 which drive the chains 61 and 58. As the ratchet wheel 16 is rotated step by step the pockets 66 will be fed step by step.

The cakes are discharged from the chain pockets by means of a vertically movable plunger having a head 9| at the upper end thereof for engaging the cakes. The plunger, as shown particularly in the plan view Fig. 24 is angular and extends inwardly between the upper and lower. laps of the chain. The plunger is connected to a vertically movable slide 92 which in turn is connected to one arm 93 of a bell crank lever which is pivoted at 94, the other arm 95 of the lever being connected to a pitman 96 having a roller 91 positioned in a cam 98 mounted on the other end of the shaft I0 from the cam I2. As the shaft 10 rotates the pitman 96 will be reciprocated and will actuate the bell crank lever 95, 93 about the pivot 94 and raise and lower the slide 92 and plunger 90.

Wrapper folding mechanism This mechanism is particularly shown in Figs. 23, 24, 25, and 27 to 32 inclusive. When the wrapper has been fed by the rollers 54 and 55 the cake will be raised on the plunger head 9i and will be positioned between oppositely acting plungers I 00 and IN. The plunger I 00 is carried by a slide I02 having a rack I03 engaged by a gear I04 which is oscillated by a quadrant gear I05 pivoted on a shaft I06. An arm I0'I is connected to the hub of the quadrant gear and is also pivoted to a pitman I08 having a roller I09 riding in a cam H0 which is carried by a shaft III. Shaft III has a gear II2 which meshes with a gear 59' on shaft 52 and is driven thereby.

A pair of oscillatable pockets P and P are mounted for oscillation on a pair of shafts II 5 and H6. The pocket P is provided with side walls or plates II! and H8, the walls III being spring pressed toward the walls H8. The pockets are open at their outer ends and the inner ends of the pocket are formed by plates I20 which are connected to the ends of the plungers WI. The heads are movable between the side walls of the pockets and the plungers are slidably mounted and are frictionally held in inner or outer position as the case may be.

In Fig. 26 a cake and wrapper are being fed into the pocket P by the plunger I00, one edge of the cake being engaged by the plunger I 00 and the other edge being engaged by the head I20 on the plunger rod IOI. It will be seen from the showing in Fig. 6 that the wrapper will be placed around two sides of the cake as the cake and wrapper are being fed into the pocket P.

After the cake and wrapper have been fed into the pocket P the pockets P and P are rotated through 90, the pocket P' in an anticlockwise direction and the pocket P in a clockwise direction. After this rotation the pockets will be positioned as shown in Figs. 30 and 31. When they have reached this position the plungers IOI of the pockets P will be actuated by means of a bar or plate I25 carried by a lever I26 which is mounted on a pivot I21 and-is actuated by an eccentric pin I28 carried by a shaft I29. The shaft I29 has a gear I30 which meshes with a gear I3I mounted on a shaft I32 which also has secured thereto a gear I33 driven by a gear I34 carried by the drive shaft D. As the lever I26 is swung in an anticlockwise direction the plunger Il of the pocket P will move the cake disposed therein, as shown in Fig. 30, from the pocket P into the pocket P The upper edge of the cake will engage the plunger head I20 and the head will move into the pocket P with the cake.

The pocket 1? is provided with pivoted crimping or folding members I35 and I36 which are carried by spindles I31 and I38, arms I39 and I40 extending in the opposite direction from the piv ots or spindles I31 and I38 from the crimping or folding members I35 and I36. The folding members are actuated by springs I40 into the position shown in Fig. 29 and crimp the wrapper about the ends of the cake. When the pocket P is swung or oscillated through 90 from the position shown in Figs. 25 and 28 to the position shown in Figs. 30 and 31, the arms I39 and I40 will engage an abutment or bar I4I which will cause the crimpers I35 and I36 to swing outwardly away from each other and away from the crimping position shown in Fig. 29. The crimpers will be held in this position as the cake and wrapper is being fed from the lower pocket P to the upper pocket P After this has been accomplished the pockets will be oscillated again to the position shown in Figs. 25 and 28 whereupon the crimpers will engage the ends of the wrapper. The wrapper will also be pressed against the cake in the pocket P by resilient presser members I42 and I43 shown in Fig. 29. This is also accomplished by a spring pressed side wall or block I44 which presses the cake and wrapper against the other wall I45. The position of the spring actuated or spring pressed wall H1 in the pocket P' is determined by springs I50 which hold the wall against adjustable stops II.

After the cake has been placed in the upper pocket P it is ejected by the plungers IOI which are actuated by a plate I52 carried by an arm I53 which is mounted on a pivot I54 and is actu ated by an eccentric pin I55 which is carried by the gear I33.

The pockets P and P are oscillated by rack and pinion operating means shown particularly in Figs. 27 and 28. The shafts H5 and H6 have secured thereto quadrant gears I60 and I6I which are engaged respectively by racks I62'and I63, the racks being secured to a slide I64 which carries a roller or pin I65 actuated by a cam I66. The

cam I66 is mounted on a shaft I61 which also car- 7 ries a sprocket wheel I68 which is driven by a chain I69 which in turn is driven by a sprocket I mounted on a drive shaft D. Thus. as the cam I66 is rotated the slide I64 will be reciprocated causing the pockets to be oscillated in the manner described to receive, transfer and discharge the article and wrapper.

Carton blank feed and folding mechanism This mechanism is illustrated particularly in Figs. 3 to 10 inclusive. and 12 to 22 inclusive. The blanks for forming the cartons or boxes are contained in a hopper J shown in Fig. '6 and are fed from the bottom of the hopper by a lug or feed member I carried by a roll I16 which is mounted on a shaft I11. The shaft I11 is driven from a shaft I18 by a bevel gear connection I19, I80. The shaft I18 is driven by a sprocket and chain connection I8I to the shaft D.

The shaft I11 has mounted thereon a gear I82 which meshes with a gear I83 which in turn drives a gear I84 of a feed roller I85. Gear I84 meshes with a gear I86 which drives the coacting feed roller I81.

The blanks are positioned in the hopper J in the position shown in Fig. 16. As they are fed from the hopper one end D of the blank B passes over a glue roller I9I carried by a shaft I92 which is positioned above a glue receptacle I93. As

the roller I9I rotates the glue will be carried around from the receptacle and will be positioned on the flap C of the blank B. The shaft I92 is driven by a gear connection I94, I95 from the roller I85.

From the feed rollers I85, I81. the blank passes downwardly through a guideway or chute I96 to a supporting surface I98 of a rectangular support I99. A pair of supporting rollers 200 and 2M are mounted at each side of the supporting surface I98, as shown in Fig. 7. The blank is engaged from above by a pair of rollers 202 and 203 which are mounted on a shaft 204 which is driven from the shaft I18 by a bevel gear connection 205, 206. The blank is fed by the coaction of the two sets of feed rolls along the two sides of the support I98 to a second set of feed rolls shown in Fig, 8. The lower rolls are designated 201 and the upper rolls 208. These rolls are mounted on a shaft 209 which is driven from the shaft I 18 by a bevel gear connection 2I0. The shaft 209 also carries a pair of bending plates 2| I. 2I2 which are shown particularly in Figs. 3, 8, and 27. These plates are flared, as shown at 2I3, and when they are rotated they bend the flaps C and D of the blank B, shown in Fig. 16 downwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 8. From the feed rolls 208 the blank is fed to a third set of feed rolls shown in Fig. 9 and designated 2I5 and 2| 6. As shown in Fig. l the support for the blank is now narrowed to the width of the central portion E of the blank or, in other words, to the width of the carton or box. As the blank is being fed by the feed rolls 2I5, 2I6 shown in Fig. 9, a second set of bending plates 2I1, 2I8 acts on the blank and bends the blank on the lines X and Y, thus bending downwardly the sections F and G. From the showing in Figs. 9 and 27 it will be seen that a pair of folding strips 220 and HI are supported below the rectangular support I99. These strips are so formed as to engage the flap D and the flap C and to fold them inwardly to position the flap D over the flap C. In this manner the box will be closed to form an open ended rectangular tubular member.

After the flaps C and D have been folded inwardly in the manner just described these flaps will be secured together by pressure exerted by a pair of presser members 225 and 226 which are carried by levers 221 mounted on pivots 228. The upper lever 221 viewing Figs. 13 and 14 has connected thereto a link 229 which is pivoted at 230 to the upper end of a lever 23I, this lever being pivoted at 232 to the lever 221. The lever 23I is actuated by a connecting rod or pitman 233 which is connected to an eccentric pin 234 mounted on a disk 235 carried by a shaft 236. The shaft 236 is driven by a gear connection 231, 238 from the drive shaft D.

The lever 23I and link 229 act as a toggle to move the presser members 225 and 226 toward and away from each other or from the open posi tion shown in Fig. 14 to the closed position shown in Fig. 13. These members are carried by blocks 240 which are mounted on the levers 221 and are spring actuated in one direction by means of springs 24I, the movement of the members being controlled by step lugs or set screws 242. By adjusting the screws 242 the distance between the members 225 and 226 can be regulated and the pressure exerted thereby can be controlled.

Mechanism for feeding 0pm carton and for placing wrapped article therein After the carton blank has been folded into a tube means is provided for continuing the forward feeding movement of the blank, this means being particularly illustrated in Figs. 3, 18 to 22 and 27. The blanks are fed. by a. reciprocating arm 250 which is pivoted at its rear end to a lever 25| mounted on a fixed pivot 252 and driven by a connecting rod 253 which is actuated by an eccentric pin 254 carried by a disk 255 mounted on a shaft 256. The shaft 256 is driven by a bevel gear connection 251, 258 from the main drive shaft D. As the open ended box is fed along the support I99 the front upper flap K is raised by means of a lug 260 which, as shown in Fig. 18, is positioned in the path of this flap and, as shown in Figs. 18, 19, 20, and 21, bends the flap K" upwardly and backwardly until the lever or arm 250 has moved over the flap, as shown in Fig. 21. The lug 260 is carried by an arm 26! which carries a roller 262 actuated by a cam 253 mounted on the shaft D.

The arm 250 is provided at its forward end with a pair of transversely extending lugs 205 and 266 and as the arm moves rearwardly viewing Figs. 18 to 21 the tab K will be pressed downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 21. Then as the arm 250 starting from the position shown in Fig. 22 moves forwardly the tab will move upwardly between the lugs 265 and 266 and the engagement of the lug 266 in the bend of the: tab or in the bend at the junction of the tab with the portion E of the blank will cause the open ended box to be' fed forwardly or to the left viewing Figs. 18 to 22 inclusive.

The supporting member I99 for the open ended carton extends approximately to the line M in Fig. 3 and thereafter the support is U-shaped in section, as shown in Fig. 30, or in other words, is open at one side. The open side of the support is disposed opposite the discharge end of the pocket P when the pocket is positioned as shown in Fig. 26 and the wrapped cake is discharged into the U-shaped support by the actuation of the plungers I 0| of the pocket P In Fig. 26 the wrapped cake is illustrated as entering the U-shaped support from the pocket P As the open ended carton is fed along the support it will enclose the cake which has been deposited therein and thereupon the feeding movement of the open ended carton and the feeding movement of the cake in the support are synchronized so that the carton and wrapped cake will be fed together. The cake is fed in the U- shaped support by means of a plunger which is reciprocated in the support and is illustrated particularly in Figs. 6, 11, and 12. As shown in Fig. 6 the plunger 210 is connected by a link 21| 'to an arm 212 of a bell crank lever pivoted to 213. The other arm 214 of the bell crank lever is provided with a. roller 215 which is positioned in a cam 216 mounted on a shaft 211. The shaft 211 is driven by a bevel gear connection to the drive shaft D.

The front end of the plunger 210 is shown in Fig. 11 wherein it will be seen that this end carries a head 280 which engages the wrapped cake.

In order to prevent the forward flap R on the open side of the support from getting in the way of the wrapped cake as the cake enters the carton a lug 2! is formed on an arm 282 pivoted at 283 to the support. The arm 282 is provided with a wedge-shaped lug 284 which is adapted to 282 to pass relative to the plunger.

engage a wedge 285 carried by a lug 286 which is pivoted at 281 to the plunger. When the plunger 210 moves rearwardly the lug 281 will be raised, thus bending the iiap R outwardly, as shown in Fig. 11. When the plunger 210 moves forwardly to feed the cake the pivoted lug 286 will be swung in an anticlockwise direction viewing Fig. 12 to permit the lug 284 carried by the arm However, after the plunger has fed the cake and then moves rearwardly the arm 282 will be swung outwardly to bend the flap R in the manner just described.

When the carton is moved over the cake and the cake is disposed therein the carton and cake will be fed onto a shelf 290 carried by a vertically mounted slide-bar 291 which is slidably mounted in a guide 292. The lower endof the slide bar 29! has connected thereto one arm 294 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 295 and having its other arm 296 connected to one end of a pitman 291 having a roller 298 actuated by a cam 299 mounted on a shaft D (see Fig. 2).

After the carton and article contained therein have been deposited on the shelf the shelf will be raised by the lever mechanism just described into a position in alinement with a supporting table 300. The carton will be fed on the table by means of a vertically mounted bar 30l which depends from a slidably mounted rod 302 which is slidable in a frame 303. The bar 30l has laterally extending tabs 304 and 305 at the ends thereof which engage the rear set of end tabs N and N of the carton and fold these tabs inwardly. The other end tabs R and R. are engaged by flared ends 306 and 301 on the receiving ends of walls 368 and 309 between which the carton is fed. As the carton is fed onto the supporting table 300 the tabs R and R will be folded inwardly.

The bar 3M and rod 302 are actuated by a.

link 310 which is connected at 3| l to a pin carried by a disk 3|2 driven by a sprocket and chain connection 3i3 from the shaft D. It will be ob vious that as the cartons are successively discharged from the shelf 290 to the support 300 by the reciprocation of the bar 30! each carton will feed the cartons in front of it through the carton closing mechanism which will now be described.

As the carton enters between the walls 308 and 309 the tabs N, N and a, R have been folded inwardly and the only folding operations now remaining are those necessary to fold the end flaps K and K and the extensions K and K inwardly to close the box or carton. This is accomplished in the manner illustrated in Figs. 35 to 39 inclusive. When the carton enters the folding mechanism the end flaps K and K with their extensions are positioned in alinement at the top of the box, as shown in the plan view in Fig. 35. The top of the guideway through which the cartons are fed is formed by a pair of plates 3|5 having flared receiving ends 3l6 and having depending flanges 3l8 and 319 connected to the outer edges thereof by members 320 and 32l. The extensions K and K of the end flaps K and K are folded inwardly in the manner shown in Fig. 36 by the flanges 3l8 and 3I9 and as the cartons are fed through the guideway the end flaps K and K are engaged successively by a plurality of inclined rollers 325, 326, 321, 328, and 329. The rollers are graduallyinciined downwardly from a slight angle to the horizontal of the rollers v325 to. a

steep angle of the rollers 329. The successively acting rollers gradually fold the end flaps K and K downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 38.

In order to insure the entrance of the exten- 

